Corporations: boards of directors: underrepresented communities.

Existing law, no later than the close of the 2019 calendar year, requires a publicly held domestic or foreign corporation whose principal executive office is located in California to have a minimum of one female director on its board. Existing law, no later than the close of the 2021 calendar year, additionally requires such a corporation with 5 directors to have a minimum of 2 female directors and such a corporation with 6 or more directors to have a minimum of 3 female directors. Existing law authorizes the Secretary of State to impose fines for violations of these provisions, as specified, and requires the moneys from these fines to be available, upon appropriation, to offset the cost of administering these requirements. This bill would require, no later than the close of the 2021 calendar year, such a corporation to have a minimum of one director from an underrepresented community, as defined. The bill would require, no later than the close of the 2022 calendar year, such a corporation with more than 4 but fewer than 9 directors to have a minimum of 2 directors from underrepresented communities, and such a corporation with 9 or more directors to have a minimum of 3 directors from underrepresented communities. Existing law requires, on or before specified dates, the Secretary of State to publish various reports on its internet website documenting, among other things, the number of corporations in compliance with these provisions. This bill would require, on or before specified dates, the Secretary of State to include in those reports certain information, including, among other things, the number of corporations in compliance with the bill's provisions. The bill would authorize the Secretary of State to impose fines for violations of the bill's provisions, as specified, and would require the moneys from these fines to be available, upon appropriation, to offset the cost of administering these requirements. This bill would make related findings and declarations.